Californium(III) polyborate

Californium polyborate is a covalent compound with formula Cf[B6O8(OH)5]. In this compound the californium is in a +3 oxidation state.[1]

Californium(III) polyborate
Names
Other names
Californium borate
Identifiers
Properties
Cf[B6O8(OH)5]
Molar mass 526.90 g/mol[1]
Appearance pale green plates
Density 3.842 g/cm3, solid
Structure
monoclinic[1]
C2/c
a = 6.849 Å, b = 18.809 Å, c = 101.36 Å
α = 90°, β = 124.72°, γ = 90°
910.9
4
8 coordinate square antiprism
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Californium polyborate is unusual in that californium is covalently bound to the borate. Californium was expected to resemble lanthanide elements in being highly ionic. The polyborate anion is polarisable and flexible.[2] The 5f, 6d, 7s, and 7p orbitals of californium are all involved on the bonding.[2] Most valence electrons are in the 5f orbital, and a significant fraction (2⁄3) in the 6d orbital, and smaller fractions of one electron are in the 7s and 7p orbitals.[1]

Formation

Californium(III) polyborate can be made by autoclaving a californium(III) chloride solution in water with excess boric acid for a week at 240°C. This is then cooled slowly to room temperature for another three days. Water dissolves excess boric acid to leave insoluble crystals of the borate.[1]

Properties

The californium(III) polyborate solid undergoes a green fluorescence of 525 nm with ultraviolet light of wavelengths 365 or 420 nm.[1] There is also an invisible near infrared fluorescence at 1020 nm induced by green light at 546 nm.[1]

Safety

Californium polyborate is dangerous because of the radioactivity of californium and its decay daughter curium. Between them these elements emit α particles, gamma rays and neutrons.[1]

References
  1. Polinski, Matthew J.; Garner, Edward B.; Maurice, Rémi; Planas, Nora; Stritzinger, Jared T.; Parker, T. Gannon; Cross, Justin N.; Green, Thomas D.; Alekseev, Evgeny V.; Van Cleve, Shelley M.; Depmeier, Wulf; Gagliardi, Laura; Shatruk, Michael; Knappenberger, Kenneth L.; Liu, Guokui; Skanthakumar, S.; Soderholm, Lynda; Dixon, David A.; Albrecht-Schmitt, Thomas E. (23 March 2014). "Unusual structure, bonding and properties in a californium borate". Nature Chemistry. 6 (5): 387–392. Bibcode:2014NatCh...6..387P. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.711.6947. doi:10.1038/nchem.1896. PMID 24755589. S2CID 104331283.
  2. "Unusual structure, bonding, and properties may provide a new possibility for a californium borate". 1 June 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
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